Sadiron support



B. c. WEBSTER,- JR 2,201,601

SADIRON SUPPORT May 21, 1940.

Filed Oct. 27, 1938 'lllllllllll INVEI ITOR $21 6 e6 Zen/1r ATTOR Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE/1'.

SADIRON SUPPORT Benjamin C. Webster, Jr., Fairfield, Conn.

Application October 27, 1938, Serial No. 237,198

13 Claims.

means for preventing an iron, while supported in,

upended position, from tipping over due to lat- 5 eral movement.

' Sadirons currently used, especially electric irons, are adapted to be rested or supported in upended position when, for example, the article to be ironed is being arranged on the board. The

supporting means is usually formed on the end of the iron and comprises a base support attached to one end of the base to extend transversely thereof for a major portion of the width of the iron, and an additional supporting element forming a point support attached to the end of the handle or the fixture receiving the cord plug and spaced from the base support in the direction of the height of the iron. The point supportis usually located midway the Width of the iron and forms with the base support a triangular supporting means for the iron.

The point support is so disposed on the iron that, with the iron resting in upended position, the v,weight of the iron rests thereon so as to hold the iron against movement about the base support and is effective to prevent the iron from tipping in the direction of the base.

However, many irons have been broken and serious accidents have occurred with irons having supports of this type because they can very readily tip laterally, that is, about the sides of the triangle, including the point support, and fall off, the ironing board or against the user if the ironing-board on which it is supported is given a jar which tends to move the iron in a lateral direction. This is due to the fact that the point support is well within the width of the iron and forms a pivot about which the iron can move sideways from upended position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support for irons which will provide widely spaced bearing points for holding the iron against lateral movement and thus preventing it from tipping and falling.

This is accomplished by providing a support for the iron which is of such breadth that it has portions located beyond the width of the iron and outwardly from the base of the iron in the direction of the height of the iron so as to form 50 spaced, laterally disposedbearing surfaces which are effective to hold the iron against tipping laterally when supported in upended position.

In the preferred form of the invention, the auxiliary support is formed as an attachment which can be readily secured to the supports of existing irons so as to assume the proper inactive relation with respect to the triangular supporting, means at the end of the iron when in upended position and remaining ineffective to support the iron until initial movement of the iron lat- 5 erally about the sides of the triangle, whereupon the spaced bearing surface of the auxiliary supporting means becomes efiective, before the center of gravity of the iron is moved outwardly beyond said bearing surface, and operate to hold the iron against further lateralmove'ment.

The auxiliary guard may be made in any suit able shape, or of any material. However, inthe' preferred form of the invention, the guard is formed as a loop of stifi, resilient material with the ends thereof provided with means for attachingit to the iron. I

The attaching means is so constructed that the auxiliary supporting means is flo'atingly piv-v oted to the iron, and, when the iron is in op'er-ative position, the auxiliary supporting means will assume a position in which it does not'interfere with the operation of the iron, and, when the iron is rested or supported in upended position, it will be located'in proper position with respect 5 to the normal supporting means to becomeeffective immedately upon any lateral movement of the iron to hold it against further movement.

In the preferred manner of mounting the auxiliary supporting means on an iron, the auxiliary 39 supporting means is provided with projecting lugs which can be snapped to the open ends of the usual V-shaped base support found on the irons currently used readily and without the use of tools, with the ends of the legs engaging. the 35 sides of, the V for limiting the pivotal movement. of the auxiliary support withrespect to the base support. The attaching means is so designed that, when the auxiliary supporting means is snapped into the ends of the base support-it will be held against lateral movement with respect thereto.

While the novel supporting structure of the present invention has been described as an a'ux-. iliary support, it is to be understood that the 5 same can be used as the main support of the iron if desired so as to provide widely spaced bearing surfaces to hold the iron against tipping over. Also, the supporting structure can bev applied to new irons as original equipment as well as to existing irons. g

The auxiliary support, while carried by the iron, does not become hot during the use of the iron inasmuch as the attaching means for the auxiliary support engages the ironwith a'minimum of surface contact, it being approximately a line contact, so that very little heat can be transmitted from the iron to the supporting means.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims, when taken in connection with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevational vie w of a sadiron with the auxiliary support thereon.

Fig. 2 shows an end View of Fig. 1, looking from the right. n

Fig. 3 shows a side elevational view of the sadiron in supported position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. l

Fig. 5 is a detail plan View of one form of the auxiliary support. v v

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of another form of the auxiliary support.

1 As shown in Fig. l, the sadiron 2 6 comprises a base 2 i having a handle 22 secured to the upper surface thereof. Adjacent the handle, at the rear of the sadiron, is a bracket or fixture 23 for receiving a plug 24 of an electric cord 25. V

When the sadiro'n is hot in use, as when the article being ironed is being arrangedon the board, means are provided for supporting the sadii'on iri upended position. This means coinprises a has'e'supportjfi attached to the end oi the base at the rear. of the sadiron so as to ax tend transversely of the" ease, for substantially the width fiiere'of. While the base support may take many forms, irithe illustrated form or the invention, the support comprisesa substantially \jlshap ed brackethaving the walls of the V, 2], 21a, thereof secured to the pas er the iron. The apex of ,the V, 28, extends across the iron 'ahd is provided with bearing surface 29, as shown in Fig. 2, adjacent the en s for supportin the iron. An additional supporting means is usually pro videdon theironto cooperate with the base sup port in holding the iron in upended position, and consists ofasupport mounted on the handle of the iron; if the electrical connection .Will permit, or as shown in the sadiron illustrated, as a sup porting surface iormed, on the fixture 23 receiving the ele ct rical plug 24. i As shown in Fig. 2, the supporting surfacetll is disposed midwaybetwe'en the sides of the base support and, together with the bearing surfaces 28 of the base support, form a triangular support em n iq the i on- "Ihesupporting surface 30 is also disposed with respect to the base support so that when the iron is upended, as shown in Fig. 3 the weight of the iron will beresting on the support which tends to hold it against movement about the base support. p i I, i v

Their-on, when 'so supported, while normally heldagainst movement about the base support, can readily be tilted laterally on the supporting means in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig, 4, and, due to the, position of the centerof gravity of the ironwi th respect to surfaceflalfl, will easily tip ove r about the sides of the triangular supporting means which include the supporting surface 30.

Thus, when an ironin g board upon which the iron is resting is accidentally hit so as to cause a lateral force to be applied tothe iron, it will readily tip over and fall from the ironing board to the floor, or intoengagement with the user and inflict serious bodily harm. Also, in many instances, irons dropping from the ironing board are seriouny damaged.

According to the present invention, an additional supporting means is provided which is of such breadth as to provide bearing surfaces, indicated at 38, 36a, laterally disposed with respect to the iron to hold the iron against lateral movement about the supporting means when in upended position.

This auxiliary support may take any form so long as it provides the proper lateral bearing surfaces. As illustrated, the support 35 is made substantially circular, as shown in the preferred form: of the invention in Fig. 5, or it may be made as substantially a trapezoid, as shown in Fig. 6, having a wide base providing bearing surfaces 4!, Ma. In either form of the invention, the auxiliary support has a breadth greater than the width of the iron and support so as to locate the bearing surfaces, when attached thereto as shown in Fig, 4, laterally of the support and is of sufiioient height to place the bearing surfaces in a position to prevent lateral shifting of the iron.

While the auxiliary support can be made' of any suitable material, it is preferred to bend it from stifl heavy resilient wire or rod, and can be suitably plated to enhance its appearance if desired.

v A feature of the invention resides in making the auxiliary support readily attachable to exist ing irons provided with a base support, without the use of tools. This is accomplished, as shown in Fig. l, by providing the auxiliary support, which may or may not be a closed loop, with pro jecting legs 31 of stiff resilient material bent at an angle to the plane of the support. The legs can be readily spread to clear the side of the base support and snapped into the open ends thereof to assumethe position as shown in Fig. 1 wherein they will be iloatingly pivotally carried thereby. The auxiliary support willbe thus mounted on the iron for limited pivotal movement with respect thereto as determined by the engagement of the legs 3'l with the walls 21, 21a of the V- shaped base support, as shown in 1 to 3. This mounting, when snapped into place, prevents undue lateral movement of the auxiliary support with respect to the base support when it is snapped into position thereon. v

I Preferably, the angle on. the legs is such that, where the iron isinupended position, the auxiliary supporting means is inactive and merely rests on the surface of theironing board, the weight of theilron being carriedby the normal triangular supporting meahs for the iron; However, should a lateral force be applied to the iron to causeit to tip to one side or the other, the bearing surfaces oh the auxiliary support immediately become effective to hold the iron against movement in that direction, the floating pivot enabling the auxiliary support to quickly become active to hold the iron before the center of gravity of the iron has passed beyond the bearihg surface.

When the iron is beihg used, the pivotal mounting' of the auxiliary support permits the support to drop back and assume the position shown in Fig. 1 so that it does not iii any way interfere with the a'ction of the iron, the handle of the iron; or the cord attached thereto.

The auxiliary supporting means is mounted on and carried by the iron during the ironing operation. However, it does not become warm enough to burn the user of the iron, should it be accidentally contacted, inasmuch as it is mounted on the iron by attaching means which present a minimum of surface contact with the base support, it being substantially line contact so that very little heat is transmitted to the auxiliary support, and

what little heat is transmitted is readily dissipated before it has an opportunity to unduly heat the said auxiliary support.

While the auxiliary support of the present invention has been described as a normally, inactive support, it can be made, by properly determining the angle between the legs and the plane of the support, so that it becomes a part of the normal support of the iron and operates at all times to prevent lateral movement when in upended position.

If it is desired to use the auxiliary support with irons in which the base support is not provided with ends suitable for receiving the attaching means, brackets can be attached, as by bolts or other suitable means, to the base support of the iron for receiving the legs of the auxiliary support.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this'invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In combination with a sadiron having means for supporting the sadiron when upended, ofv

an auxiliary supporting means readily attachable to the support for the sadiron for limited relative movement with respect thereto, and having a bearing means which is wider than the first iron support to provide auxiliary bearing means for holding the sadiron'against lateral movement about the support when upended, and abutment means for limiting the movement of the auxiliary supporting means to a point where the bearing means reaches supporting engagement before the center of gravity of the sadiron moves beyond the auxiliary supporting means.

2. In combination with a sadiron having means at one end thereof for supporting the sadiron when upended, of an auxiliary supporting means having a bearing means which is wider than the first iron support to provide laterally disposed bearing surfaces for preventing lateral movement of the supported iron; means for mounting the auxiliary supporting means on the iron for limited relative movement with respect thereto; and abutment means for limiting the movement of the auxiliary supporting means to a point where the bearing surfaces reach supporting engagement upon initial tipping movement of the iron about its supporting means at the end thereof, said auxiliary supporting means having a minimum of surface contact with the iron to thereby retard heat transfer to the auxiliary supporting means from the iron.

3. In combination with a sadiron having a supporting means at one end for supporting the iron in upended position, of an auxiliary supporting means having a breadth greater than the width of the sadiron and support and of substantial height; means for pivotally mounting the auxiliary support to the sadiron so as to extend across the end thereof upon which it is to be supported and provide spaced bearings laterally of the sadiron to hold the supported iron against lateral movement, said pivotal mounting including means for limiting the pivotal movement of the auxiliary supporting means relative to the sadiron in one direction and permitting the auxiliary supporting means to assume a position on the sadiron in which it does'not interfere with the ironing operation while in use; and means for limiting the movement of the auxiliary support in the other direction to a point where the bearings reach supporting engagement upon lateral tipping movement of the sadiron on the supporting means at the end thereof.

4. In combination with a sadiron having atone end thereof a base support and a cooperating spaced support forming a substantially triangular supporting means for the sadiron in upended position, of an auxiliary support floatingly mounted on the base support and operative to restrict the iron against movement about either of the sides of the triangular supporting means which includes the spaced support, and means for limiting the floating movement of the auxiliary support to a point where the auxiliary support carries the" respect to the sadiron and being moved into supporting engagement up'oninitial movement of the sadiron about the sides of the triangle and before the center of gravity of the iron has shifted beyond the spaced bearing surfaces to prevent further lateral movement of the iron.

6. In combination withasadiron having at one end thereof a 'base support and a cooperating spaced support forming a substantially triangular supporting means for the sadiron when disposed inupended position, of a normally inoperative auxiliary support means having bearing surfaces located beyond the sides of the triangular supporting means; and means for fioatingly pivoting the auxiliary support to the base support including means for limiting the movement of the auxiliary support with respect to the sadiron in one direction to a position wherein the auxiliary support is rendered operative upon initial movement of the sadiron about either of the sides of the triangular sup-port which includes the spaced support to hold the iron against tipping over.

7. In combination with a sadiron having a support on the base at one end thereof, said support being substantially V-shaped in cross-section and open: at the ends, of an auxiliary support of stiff resilient material having projecting legs to be snapped into position within the open ends of the V-shaped support to be pivotally carried thereby, the ends of the legs engaging the walls of the V for limiting the pivotal movement of the auxiliary support with respect thereto, said auxiliary support projecting outwardly from the V-shaped support to provide auxiliary bearing surfaces located laterally from and outwardly of the support to restrict lateral movement of the sadiron when in supporting position.

8. In combination with a sadiron having a transversely extending support on the base at one end thereof, said support having openings in the ends, of an auxiliary supporting means having attaching means extending into an opening in the ends of the support; and interengaging means mounted therein for limiting the pivotal movement and lateral movement of the auxiliary sup-.

port with respect to the sadiron, said auxiliary supporting means extending outwardly from the support in the direction of the height of the iron and having a breadth greater than the sadiron and support thereon to provide spaced auxiliary bearing surfaces for holding the iron against projecting from the support and cooperating therewith, said means being provided with bearing surfaces spaced laterally beyond the sides of and upwardly from the support in the direction of the height of the sadiron to restrict the sadiron against lateral movement when in upended supported position.

10. As an article of manufacture, an attachment support for a sadiron having a base support comprising a member provided with attaching means adapted to engage the base support and having means projecting from the plane thereof for properly positioning the attachment support in an operative relation therewith, said attachment support having bearing surfaces disposed laterally beyond the sides of and upwardly from the attaching means in the direction of the handle of the sadiron.

11. An auxiliary support for a sadiron comprising a loop of stifi resilient material having the ends thereof spaced apart substantially equal to the width of a conventional sadiron support and bent at an angle to the plane of the loop and forming attaching meanswhereby the support can be attached to the sadiron and the bent ends act as abutments for limiting relative movement of the auxiliary support on the sadiron, said loop having bearing surfaces disposed laterally beyond and outwardly of the bent ends thereof.

12. An auxiliary support for a sadiron comprising a loop of stiff resilient material having the ends thereof spaced apart substantially equal to the Width of a conventional sadiron support and bent at an angle to the plane of the loop and forming attaching means whereby the support can be attached to the sadiron and the bent ends act as abutments for limiting relative movement of the auxiliary support on the sadiron, said loop being substantially circular and having bearing surfaces disposed laterally beyond and outwardly of the bent ends thereof.

13. An auxiliary support for a sadiron comprising a loop of stifi resilient material having the ends thereof spaced apart substantially equal to the width of a conventional sadiron support and bent at an angle to the plane of the loop and forming attaching means whereby the support can be attached to the sadiron and the bent ends 25 act as abutments for limiting relative movement of the auxiliary support on the sadiron, said loop being substantially trapezoidal in shape with the ends of the longest side forming bearing stufaces disposed laterally beyond and outwardly of the 80 bent ends thereof.

BENJAMIN C. WEBSTER, JR. 

